Hysterectomies - it's gotta be done but over here for hand holding PART 3

[LackaDAISYcal]

New Thread...
Over here for the hand holding

One in five women in the uk will have to have a hysterectomy at some point in their lives

Come and join us if you are waiting, pre-op, bleery eyed on the ward or recovering afterwards or just need a bit of advice.

Thankyou x

here's some comical relief... I'm usually a tummy sleeper, which, needless to say wasn't possible after op. So last night my body in its infinite wisdom rolled itself into tummy position whilst I was sleeping... it took me ages to get out of bed in the morning... picture reverse turned over turtle... couldn't just push up with my arms to then tug legs under and couldn't just roll so had to do it in lots of little wiggly stages. So glad dh had already left for work as otherwise I'd never hear the end of it

Bet that was funny

Must admit I'm dreading sleeping as I too sleep on my tummy and don't sleep very well at all on my back. I've bought some nice shiny sleeping tablets off amazon just in case I can't get to sleep.

Not laughing, it hurts

I've been sleeping on my side with lots of soft pillows all around me, and a V pillow for sitting up has been lovely too.

Something else those due for surgery in the future, make sure you have a light duvet, trying to move under my very cosy but heavier one was really hard work.

Funnily enough I thought that today, we have a feather duvet and I was shaking it when I wondered that ....

Perhaps the hot flushes will keep me warm ?

Sure we've got some old skanky sleeping bags somewhere, might get one out and open it up and use that for a few weeks

Oh pizza, don't do skanky, you could be feeling rough enough as it is. Can you find a duvet in a sale, or borrow one?

They are not really skanky, just not the super king size soft feather ones I'm used to . Im a duvet snob and love nice soft heavy ones.

I'm really not enjoying this part of recovery btw, sharp pricks (ooer) as the feeling comes back into the surrounding area, but mentally I'm much more settled today. Probably a lot to do with the sunshine we've had most of the day. DS2 has been round to walk the dog and do some laundry, and it's on the line waiting for DH to get home and bring it in.

I could get used to these house-elves and their visits

Hi all. Recovery going really well here. I'm managing to go for fairly long walks now (in comparison to this time last week), and as long as equipment is all left out I'm making dinner again for everyone. I've realised I must be feeling a lot better as I keep forgetting to have my midday dose of ibuprofen.
The only exception to this was yesterday when late afternoon I had chronic stomach ache which lasted into the evening. It kept coming in really strong waves ending in (TMI alert) extreme and painful diahorea . Two bouts of that, where I didn't think I would ever leave the bathroom again, a nights sleep and I'm fine again today . No idea what it was, but not pleasant.
Anyway, off to DS2's school tonight to learn how to make babies . Oh the irony .

Mary there is a tummy bug going round at the moment and I guess if your under par your bound to pick this sort of thing up
Glad to hear it Jenny. Like the sound of house elves xx

Sounds like a bug to me too, Mary, or maybe a reaction to something rich you ate?

I feel like I've turned a corner this afternoon, much more like I did at the weekend, fingers crossed this is me on the way up properly. I haven't got anything in place for collecting DD from school next week, I'd hoped to be walking by then.

Well the making babies evening was interesting . Hoping it was a bug. I'm definitely feeling better. If I keep improving like this I will feel a bit of a fraud for being signed off for 10 weeks! Not complaining though .

Hello all. Hope everyone is muddling through, even if we are sore and sweaty and sleepless. Does anyone else get a burning pain around their ribs when they lie down? It feels a bit like being very hungry, although I'm not?

I have managed to go downstairs a couple of times but the kids arguing sent me back to bed. Just couldn't cope with it. I'm really really scared of my next poo - I have IBS and the last one was awful. I have all the meds for IBS but they aren't working, probably because of all the rummaging they did inside me. I am a wuss but a bad attack of IBS scares me more than surgery.

Taking half a sachet a day of spatone as my iron levels are really low and I can't take anything stronger. Stopping the codeine. I have my follow up appointment in two weeks.

Hello again everyone. Hope you are all healing well.

I haven't been around much lately. The past week has been really difficult. Work is exhausting and I wish I hadn't gone back so early. I didn't have a lot of choice as financially we couldn't manage if I took more time.

My surgeon called last Friday with pathology results. He confirmed stage 1 grade 2 uterine cancer. I already knew this before surgery and the uterus and cancer are now gone. So why is it bothering me so much? I have been so down for the past week and am really struggling to come to terms with the fact that I had cancer. I really need to get past this.

Scarlett, I'm getting a burning pain on one side, it comes and goes, but since i've not got any other weird symptoms, (temp/sickness etc) i'm thinking it's just all part of muscles etc finding their places again

i'm a bit worried about your IBS though, would moving about more let gravity help you out there, also have you tried sitting on the loo for a length of time, with your feet on a step? I'm used to doing this as DD has chronic constipation, and we've learned all the tricks of the trade. What meds are you taking now, I've got Mebeverine now, and it's helping a lot.

Annie, are you due any annual leave, maybe you could take 1/2 days a week for the next few weeks, so you can have some rest days? It must be so hard, I'm only a week behind you in terms of recovery, but while I'm happy enough to shower and wash up cups, no way would i be fit for work already, and i was at my fittest ever before surgery. If you're not entitled to any paid leave, can you take unpaid? I know the whole idea of working is to get paid, but maybe p/t is better than none?

I wasn't prepared for the emotional upheaval of hysterectomy, hormones are bastards.

Oh Annie. I really feel for you. You have been through a lot both physically and mentally, and it takes time to heal both of those. Unfortunately your situation re. work hasn't let you take that time. Make sure you get some rest over the weekend. I'm sure someone who has had to cope and deal with the cancer side of things will be along soon. I just didn't want your post to go unanswered. .

Scarlett I was thinking maybe you ought to be trying to move around a bit too. I was told not to sit still for any longer than an hour at a time, just a few minutes potter around the house/garden and then sit down again. I also varied where and how I sat. Sometimes I needed to lay flat, to stretch out, other times I needed to sit up. Drink plenty of water too. I've constantly got a glass on the go.
Hope you feel a bit more with it soon.
I'm out on my first visiting trip this evening. Its MIL birthday so we're all off to see her. Hoping it doesn't tire me out too much .

Hi guys - bowel trouble is a constant throughout this thread

annie my emotions were up and down all the time with my cancer. When I got the all clear that it hadn't spread and had all been removed with the hysterectomy, I though i would be overjoyed and completely relieved. I wasn't. I felt really flat and teary. I think it is hard to believe a good diagnosis and I struggled to come to terms with the whole cancer thing.

It's all such a shock to the system both physically and emotionally. Your defences are down too, because like everyone, I think you went back to work far too soon.

It really is two steps forward, one step back, both physically and emotionally.

Keep up the good recovery everyone. Don't worry those with impending surgery and good luck.

Hi Annie,
It is scary, but do focus on the fact that endometrial cancer (stage 1) is CURED by the hysterectomy, not in remission, nor 'hopeful it was all caught' - cured. This is what I was told by my specialist and the Occ Health gynaecologist, whom I spoke to re my return to work next week.
So other than the fact you will be monitored in the future, there is now no actual difference between us and people who have had a normal hysterectomy. This is what I keep telling myself anyway - and if I do it enough, I find myself believing it more!

Do you get any sick pay and are you aware that as a former cancer sufferer you are covered by the discrimination act. I.e they can't sack you for being off sick and must allow you time off for check- ups etc. Is there any way you can ask for a phased return to work?

I do hope you feel better soon - at least the week-end is tomorrow.

Good evening ladies. I've been reading all the recent posts, rejoicing at the little victories and sympathising with the bad moments. As I'm still waiting, I can't offer any advice really, but I'm sure there will always be someone who can help with whatever questions or problems we all have.

Notapizzaeater - was it your pre-op today? Hope it went well and you are feeling more reassured. Mine was last Monday and I definitely came out feeling less anxious than when I went in (building back up to a nervous wreck steadily since then, of course). I've just had a horrendous 48 hours of flooding and keep telling myself that it's probably the last time - keep holding on to that thought!

Thanks for the advice everyone. Unfortunately, I used all my time when I was off following surgery. I have 4 days annual leave until December but I need to save them in case one of the kids are ill and can't go to school.

Let'spretend, I saw the surgeon today, he was showing me where my cut was going to be - he's cutting across my "umbilical" - or belly button to everyone else !!!! Up and down. I'm back for my pre op Tuesday

Hi notpizza

Have you had abdominal surgery before then? That's often why they will do a vertical cut, to avoid using previous scar tissue. Will you get your admission date at the pre-op?

Letspretend, when do you go in? The end is in sight! No more checking your seat, no more bad pants, no more anaemia, stashing towels in all your bags/pockets, no more PMT! Are they leaving anything behind or taking it all out?

I know my HRT is working now, I had a (not very hot but still spicy) curry and a small glass of wine last night and no night sweat -if I could I'd jump for joy. Also still feeling a lot brighter again this morning, probably helped by not having to change night-clothes at 3am. Hoping to go out on another small shopping trip this afternoon, I need some nice yarn for a new crochet project. I wanted to do this sooner, but haven't had the brain capacity to follow a pattern yet.

Annie, I hope you're able to get some quality rest in over this weekend. I'm worried for you.

My op is on the 16th June, have date just need all the blood tests, EEG etc now which I'll get on Tuesday.

Never had previous abdominal surgery, he needs to get the growth out (6"x6"x3") intact and he's high and pushed everything up - hence positioning of cut . Good news is he is convinced he's harmless just a. Bloody pain in the bum !!! Will be in for 3/4 days, still decluttering, tidying and batch cooking ......

He's not putting me on hrt straight away, he's going to see how I am

Annie, hope you're resting and feeling better, could you work from home a couple of the days ?

Hi Jenny and notapizzaeater
My op is 16 June and apparently I'm on the morning list. (pizza and I are in on the same day).
The plan is to take the uterus and the ovaries and have a look at the cervix while he's in there! I haven't been able to have a smear for the last couple of years because of the constant bleeding so we're not sure if it's ok or not. As I'm 55, I should be menopausal anyway - we've been hoping the "fibroid" would shrink naturally but it's uncooperative, hence the hysterectomy now. The consultant is being very careful what he says to me, but I notice his previous line of "statistically it's very unlikely to be cancer" has now changed to "we have to recognise when it is no longer in your best interests to wait and see".
I suspect I may also end up with a vertical incision because of the size of my fibroid; at the last scan they couldn't find the top of it until they realised it was just under the bottom of my bra! Surgeon says he will decide when he's in there
I was also hoping to know about the anaesthetic after my pre-op but once again they say the decision will be made on the day. Seems a big thing to decide when I'll already be a wreck, but perhaps it's better that way. I'm assured that if I have a spinal they will sedate me so much that I'll practically be asleep anyway, which removes one of my fears.
Sadly, unlike many of the folk on here, my attempts to get fitter and thinner before they op have been a dismal failure, so I just hope he can find his way through all the blubber - although the size it is, it should be easy to spot